Question 1

How is Konane different from checkers?

Accepted Answer

The board starts completely full — every point holds a stone, alternating colour like a checkerboard pattern. There's no diagonal movement: every jump is strictly horizontal or vertical, and pieces never get promoted.

Question 2

Who moves first, and how does the game start?

Accepted Answer

Black removes one of its own stones from a corner or one of the four centre points. White then removes one of its own stones from a point directly next to that empty space. Normal jumping play begins with Black after that.

Question 3

What counts as a legal move?

Accepted Answer

You must jump one of your own stones over an adjacent enemy stone into the empty space directly beyond it, in a straight horizontal or vertical line. The jumped stone is captured and removed from the board.

Question 4

How does the game end?

Accepted Answer

If you have no legal jump available on your turn, you lose immediately. There's no pass and no draw — Konane always ends decisively.

Question 5

Can I jump more than one stone in a single turn?

Accepted Answer

This version plays one capture per turn, then passes to the opponent. Traditional play allows chaining several jumps with the same stone in one turn if further captures are available from the new position.

Konane (Hawaiian Checkers)

Sitting notes

Quick rules